blonde poker forum

Ok guys - some of you may be aware (cough cough) that I and a select other 600 or so are going to the WPT next week to play poker and have fun in the sun.   (others - Tikay - have decided to go on a cruise but i make no judgement on your personal preferences for late night toilets).

Anyway - myself, Rupert, Suited Jock and The Rookie will be at the Atlantis resort. Not sure if there are anyother blonde players - sorry if I have missed anyone out - does anyone know?

I am about to go off line until I get to the Bahamas - I get there on the 2nd January for an extended holiday - so I wanted to start the update thread now for what I hope will be a very long report......featuring all blondites fighting it out on the final table. I am sorely disappointed not to be going to the blonde bash (I never want to miss out on anything) so I'm looking forward to reading about it while we are all away.

My first thoughts are: I am packing for a great trip that could become a trip of a lifetime- and although I am at least a 600 to 1 shot the odds do shorten bearing in mind a lot of them will be american....

I have no idea of what to pack as I haven't decided on my table image. The nails are painted ice maidenish, the lips have been tattooed (red - to remind me of Red Dog obviously) the hair has been restyled and I am looking decidedly kelly osbournish (hmmmmm) and I cant decide whether to go as an english lady or a poker player if that makes sense! Cute or gutsy? - undecided!  I have interviews booked with the tv people - as a female english player I have attracted a bit of attention - I'm hoping that my poker will do the same. (for its skill not its badness)

I am packing 3 books - two harringtons (i like the pictures in his books)  and one loaned by TE which having read the chapter he has recommended will either get me on the final table or out first hand......dont want to say anymore unless I give my game plan away. Having said that I am confident that as soon as I sit at the table I wont remember what a game plan is or how to play bun the baker. Still - when i shout snap it might make them laugh  8)

Have just packed my good sunglasses - which i rarely wear but in case i need to retreat i will do it cooly behind my shades.

Have also packed my new (only) card protector - a crystal cat (resist Kev)  donated by TE which definitely helped me get second the other night in Luton. its like a visual ipod - helps me focus - light coming through the crystal is very calming and energising all at the same time.   Last night - as I rolled the cat around the table - Simon the dealer asked me why i kept playing with my pussy - classic silent moment before the table errupted.....in laughter (she adds quickly)

Anyway back to poker - All paperwork packed incase PS tell me when I get there it was an admin error and im not really playing. A few glad rags to wow the boys (the little black dress is packed) and lots of dollars to put in their equivalent of megabucks.  i will invest a few for you Heid - I know what a slot machine queen you are!!

Had a horrendous game last night at Luton which uset me because i wanted a good game before I went away. Still - you can only play your game and last night wasn't mine.

i have a few distractions while I am away - january is my businesses busiest time so I have made a commitment to do some work every day -   ;slavedriver; I really wanted to completely immerse myself in poker but i have to be real about it.  :(

Life in other areas has been a little traumatic recently and the day after I fly back I am due to go into hospital for further tests, I cant pretend I'm not a little concerned and I have been less than truthful to myself and others as to the reality of it all, so I'm looking to this trip to take my mind off it all and indulge myself in some drinking, massages, oh - and winning some poker!! :D

All in all its going to be a roller coaster - especially if i take a day or so out to go to Disney which is a short hop away (never been) and go on a few rides. A fishing trip is also planned and my expertly timed sea sickness should attract a few marlin.   ;shark;

My room has been upgraded so I am in a tower room - away from the rowdy mob (damm) so I hope I will get plenty of sleep before the first days play - i am on flight one - so start at 12 noon next Thursday January 5th. Brian Wilson is playing day 2 and is using that to his advantage ....offering drinks to unsuspecting players so they will not be as good day 1. I have him fooled - alcohol can only improve my play - make be braver - so i will be raising all in with 4 7.

This will be only the third time I have played with running antes later in the game - once in vegas where I got anted out and once at celebpoker game where I made it to the last 2 tables but the antes, my fear of Mad Marty and JJ Lui on the same table as me, and feeling tired got the better of me.  However - we start with 10K chips and levels increasing every 75 mins so there is a lot of play to be had.

First thing I do when I get to the ballroom (is it a room for dancing or where the ball breakers play) is to find the ladies loo - i will drink a lot of water to keep the brain cells connecting when I'm playing and I will need a quick route to the facilities at break time. Break after every level of 15 mins so plenty of time to regroup my thoughts away from the table.  I have also heard that a coke at the hotel is $6 so secondly I will be going to the local supermarket (no flies on me!) and stocking up on refreshments. PS pays for everything apart from drinks!

I then have the tv interviews lined up - they are paying me to say stuff like Poker stars is great (yipee)  - and then my holiday is my own!!   ;cheerleader;

I have prepared as much as I can at this stage I think - I really want to do well but I have to accept that skill and luck go together. I will be making a stand early at my table (I think) to ensure they dont start bullying the bird - good advice from TE that I will probably take. After that I intend to call any bets as long as I have quads. (or 4 7 off obviously).

I have TE, Kev and Red Dog on speed dial  - TE and Red Dog for hand advice while I'm playing - and Kev just to take my mind off the game.....he's been tutoring me in the penguin game and i now have a score of 60. Sorry Tikay - couldn't include you as I wasn't sure if you would have your glasses on or not.....and I wasn't sure about ironsides advice on Ak.......

i am taking the digital camera (simple enough for a three year old to work) so expect a few shaky photos out of focus. Looking forward to this internation blonde assignment and i promise that some of my reports will be about poker - can't speak for all blondites though!!  (I'm sure I remember a thread about Brian Wison, stewardesses and dancing on the roof of a bar or something? I expect my reports to be a little more sedate than that!  ;tk; )

My flight from gatwick has also been upgraded - so at 8 am on Monday morning I will be raising a glass of champagne to you all - if it wasnt for Blonde I wouldn't be going - and for that and the friends I have made here I will be forever grateful!

Its going to be a blast!!!!

Tracey x

I'd like some particularly embaressing pics of Bri Wilson please:)

Have fun, kick some botty, and sun factor 15,000 - we are translucent beings this far north...

Cable Beach is the nicest beach in the Bahamas ....Jitneys are the only way to travel, and watch the yanks trying to cross the roads for sporting entertainment.

Bring home the dosh..

Heids
xx

Can someone please summerise what Dingdell said in her post, it's far too long for me, I'm welsh you know and I have a hangover   :cheers:

Well sober up and read it .... Fantastic post Ding.. wish you all the luck... and have a great time girl..xx

Well I had to read it after that instruction (feel like a naughty schoolboy) ,  good luck Tracey and have a good time, looking forward to more posts (can you write them in welsh) 

Enjoy

Great Post Tracey.

I expect those reports to be on the site evey morning, but send me the uncensored versions by PM please.

Enjoy, & I look forward to many happy hours across the tables with you in '06. Poker tables, that is.

nice post Dingdell

Good luck, sock it to em.

Good luck Dingbell! Sunday8pm (ben) is also coming out with me, dunno if he will bother to do updates or not but i'll deffo make a big post when I get back home.  I'm also in flight A and get in 9pm the day before I start, hangovers have never been a problem for me though ;)

I will also take my spanking new digital camera for lots of photos, dont have a card protector as it is, considering using the one I won in a Hendon Mob forum tournament but I probably just won't bother taking one and worry about it when i'm there... plenty of shells on the beach I hope!!

The worst that can happen is that we get a really good fun holiday out of it and I hope to do my best in the tournament.

Stars have been in touch with me as well regarding media interviews, apparently they wanted someone from London but no doubt they will make a fuss that I am (probably) the youngest player there at 18... Who cares though, easiest $200 I ever made!

I will no doubt get on a PC at some point just to check how the arsenal are getting on and have a few bets on the weekend footy or whatever, I will try and get a few posts on here as well obviously!!

I hope everyone going has a great time if it aint the bahamas then at the blonde do!!

Great post and a really enjoyable read.

You sound thrilled to be going Dingbell and I'm really pleased for you. Just make sure you fend off those bullies.

Good luck to all the Blondites involved.

I look forward to your next post.

 :)up

Typical - you deal me an ace, second card a 2 off suit!

x

Sometimes, AA is not quite what you'd hope it would be. Still, worth the risk I'd say.

All the best Dingdell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

And i am not jealous in the slightest!!

Good luck Dingbell , do it for the woman !!
Have fun and enjoy the experiance , and i am very jealous  :)up

a quick tip for anyone going over this year - if last year was anything to go by then the single table sit and go's that take place during the day, especially as the main event is still in full swing have to be the easiest games i have ever sat it. (and i'm a mtt monkey!) they are usually made up of the partners of the people playing in the main event who are just their for the sun and holiday. these games provided me with most of my spending money last year :)

Hi all - we arrived in the Bahamas safely. Stayed at Gatwick the night before and decided to check out the fullhouse in Reigate.  Couldnt find the address we had so carefully written down so rang TE who texted the address over. Put it in to the sat nav which then announced we had reached our destination - we had been sitting outside the whole time! Not a good start!!

Anyway fullhouse good except the blinds which went up every 10 mins on 11 person table - I was in seat 11 so the blinds had gone up before I had paid the first one!!  Went out early but gave us a good excuse to check out the indian next door which is also good.

Back to bahamas - at check in we met The Camel, his lovely other half and baby Jake, they sat next to us and the baby behaved immpecibly all the way there. Showed us up a treat!!  Half way through a post champagne breakfast nap we were woken up by Daniel Sampson and his baby Emma who had come for a wander, who also broke the news that he thought the comp was sold out - mass concern as Bern hasnt got a ticket yet but he hopes to win one at the sattelite the night before - we think they have kept some back for that. If not he is delighted by Matts post about easy money and will take money off the americans with pleasure.

Shared a cab with the sampsons (his wife Lucy is a non player and has already got her sun bathing/shopping schedule worked out)  and arranged to meet them later for a drink. Fat chance - you could walk around this place for a week and never meet up with anyone - it is enormous. Dropped them off at one entrance, our accomodation was another 3 mins by car away through a tunnel - the place is huge.......

Anyway - the yanks are definitely up for a gamble - and I think they may be easy money - heard some boys talking when we were checking in and they want to loose their money.and just enjoy doing it - sounds good to me.....

The reception area alone takes your breath away - its like the mgm grand in vegas but by the sea - enormous pillars, fountains, conch shells spouting water for no good reason, painted ceilings of clouds, cherubs, gilded flowers - the whole lot.  I am always astounded by the way these places are put together - im happy to accept a candlewick bed spread if I have to - but here the place is soo big they even have a mapdesk at very reception hall.

Anyway - showered and fresh, fed well on the plane - so looking for a light supper and a trip to the casino to while away the hours until we get our body clocks onto  Bahamas time - just got a msg from WSOP asking me not to drink all the beer - I cant promise - because now Im here Im ready to party!!

Temperature a nice 25c so no need to wear a cardigan ---yippee. Let you know how the tourney goes in a few days.

Tracey 

Tracey and everybody out there, have a fantastic time, enjoy it and win it :)

now you believe me when i told you the card room was a half mile walk from the hotel room??

Dingdell/Tracey

see you in a day or two!!!


woohoo the exciteent is kicking in now! :)

Good luck Dingdell

Keep these Posts coming please Tracey. We can almost smell the sun-tan lotion, hear the cards being shuffled.

I Knowe It - what happened at Walsall today - never saw the going of you?

Trace, its no good dressing it all up and pretending its all fantastic .... We Know you would rather be in Birmingham for the Blonde bash :)

I am going, flying out tomorrow night to arrive on the afternoon of the 4th. I am on the 2nd starting flight, stars screen name, Paolo69, Gl to all blondes in this im pants at live poker so ill be doing pletny of scuba diving after day 1

Pab

Getting all excited now. Head off to Manchester tonight to get the 10am flight out tomorrow to Orlando with Virgin Atlantic.
I'll also have my laptop with me so will post up trip reports... GL ALL.!!!


 ;letsparty;

Hope you all have a great time , would love to be digging bikinis out and joining you all , with my darling other half of course !!

I went out about 10 mins before the end of play on Saturday. I lost 2 key pots. 1st with KK  , then I lost with a set against Ali Malu.
He raises for umpteenth time and I have 44 in SB , so I flat call.
Flop J , 10 ,2. check, check
Turn the magical " 4 " . check , Ali bets 2500 so I flat call.
River Ace. I check , Ali bets 3000, I just flat call.
I turn over set of 4,s,  Ali turns over set of J's. He asks how could I not raise him when I caught a set.
I told him I know of his crafty tricks and it might not be good.
He said he still dont know how I couldnt raise him.

It was an uphill struggle after that, and the way Ali was catching cards combined with him being a good player, made it a lethal combination.
Congrats on your placing by the way.

What I wouldnt give to be out there right now :)

All the best to everyone

THIS YANK WONT GO DOWN W/OUT A FIGHT!
 

I land in Nausau at noon tomorrow so I will try to find all the Blondites for a beer, I hope the side STT are really that easy. I am bringing the computer and the camera and if someone will teach me we can do some posting while we are there. I dont know anything about my computer or how to load pictures 8)

My prediction is a top 20 finish for myself! I know, I know, but I am just ready for this one 8)

Any sites have odds for this event??????

Just make sure you take the CD that came with the camera.

Best of luck to all the Blonds out there , sounds fantastic............................go Brian , work you're magic you mad bastard !!!!!!.




Cupcake.

i got it

Good luck to all the blondes!

Although I have to admit to a slight bias

I have a soft spot for Dingdell (Left side of  bed)

And a soft spot for Brian (bog at bottom of field)

Only joking guys, have a great time and KEEP US POSTED

I AM OUT..........of the sattelite!

Decided to play the sattelite for Bern as he hasnt got a ticket for the main event and was one of only 3 women playing in a room of 22 tables of 10 players. This will be going on for hours I thought. At my table was a norwegian (young, quiet and seemed to have eyes in the back of his head -you know the type), a canadian, a guy from brooklyn wearing a vest shirt, track suit bottoms, hat etc, and a real estate dealer and a lawyer plus a young guy drinking beer and shouting to his friends who were watching from the sidelines. My table was right at the end of the row and attracted lots ofspectators. (My pre game tactics were to ruffle my hair and put on some more lipstick just in case the cameras  moved in)

Buy in $200, 1000 chips. Unlimited rebuys when under 1000. First hand I had pocket Kings, I was 4th to act, everyone folded round to me. Blinds 25, 25. I raised to 200 - a bit steep but i was nervous and didnt want someone getting in with A something. The rest of the table folded to me and I got the blinds.

Passed a few hands until I was in bigblind with 7 2 of hearts.No raise so I called it - Flop went A Q 9 of hearts.  Checked round to me (5 in the pot). I bet 300 -  they all folded to me ....too easy I think. Still got my confidence up- I bet it hard as I didnt want a drawing hand to call - and the checks made me think I must be ahead.

Next hand I have K9 off in the small blind. Only player inl is the norwegian who has some kind of automatic chip throwingin device attached to his arm because he does it without moving any other muscle in his body. He raises to 200, I call, big blind folds. Flop Q 7 2 rainbow. He checks, I bet 200 he comes over the top with another 500 I fold after much play acting and thinking.

I dont want the guys to think they can nick my blinds so i call small raises and occasionally find something to win the pot. Rebuy period over - blinds 50, 100. In BB i find A7 diamonds. I raise 300 called by the real estate guy. Flop ten king ace. He checks i bet 300, he calls. Hmmmmm. Next card 9, he checks I bet 300 he calls. Ooops I'm thinking I'm definitely out kickered and my stack is getting hammered. River comes a 7. There is a poker god and he is smiling at me.....he checks I bet all in- he folds but not before asking for a count. A bit of a tense moment that comes good in the end. Yee hah.   

Few hands later i get pocket kings. folded round to me - I raise to 500, the book says go all in but i'm scared to!  Folded to the norwegian in the bb who reraises my by 1000. His stack covers me.....I guess hes at it - he is norwegian after all - I reraise all in - he calls before i have finished saying it and turns over aces (of course!).  Flop goes K (there is that poker god again) 2 and ace. 2 non helpers on the turn and river.

I'm out! Nor the first to go and if I hadnt pushed in preflop Iwould have committed myself after the flop anyway - so I played it ok I think, just cards that let me down.

Great learning experience - saw some terriblepoker stars calls where n either player had nothing. Also learnt that the air conditioning is brutal and jumpers is the order of the day tomorrow.

Wanted to tell you about the poker stars party and that I met the rookie who is much smaller in real life.....but the coffee is wearing off and the night nurse is taking affect. I have suggested to Brian that he lends me his WSOP bracet tomorrow - may give me an edge......he didnt say no -so watch this space!! If all else fails I could always sell it on ebay :-))

Tracey


     

 ;goodluck; ;goodluck; ;goodluck; ;goodluck; ;goodluck; to all the Blondes out there!

 Above all ,just enjoy it ;letsparty;

 :goodpost:


I love these on the spot jobbies. More please

Ok - now 8.30 am pre game start cant sleep as air con is making the sneezing and congestion worse - and I feel like a hospital case - I definitely have a man cold.

Went to the ps party last night - lots of free food and booze with a steel band and lots of poker players mainly american high fiving each other.  Earlier that day I had spotted Joe Hachem and after much thinking about it I approached him. I had spent 5 mins saying thats Joe Hachem, im sure it is - look at the blingbling etc. Bern didnt really know who he was but pointed out logically that JH was australian and this guy had an american accent.   This info was as useless to me as if I had been playing a pair of queens and the guy had reraised me holding a sign that said I have aces - I comletely ignored it.  Aproached him and in a very english way asked are you Mr Hachem. "No" he said. As we skulked away I whispered to Bern that he didnt want to be disturned but it was very rude of him......of course when we saw him later at the do it was obvioulsy not him but they did look similar.We then realised that there were a lot of JH look alikes - so I have taken it upon myself to get photos of them all and thought we could run a mini comp and see if anyone else would be as easily fooled!  :blonde:

So after a few speeches there was more steel drum music and the atmosphere was getting quite merry. All the stars and staff had been introduced including Issabelle Mercier, Greg Raymer etc - Chris Moneymaker had missed his flight so they introduced his Dad instead who got a bigger cheer than anyone else! They announced that the tables would open in an hour and quite quickly a lot of people disappeared to buy in to the sattelite. We went to The Dig - a great discovery of lost atlantis (which a lot of the americans thought were real artifacts - dear god) and frightened the fish for a while before going to the game.

Not wanting to make a Joe Hachem mistake again I ppoached Greg Raymer with caution but he was the real deal....

AT the game ran into The Rookie who was trying to negotiate a discount with the barman for beer if he gave him a tip.......  :D  Love that Man already!!

Really nice guy - his larger than life image is deceiving - although during the break I did see him wrestling his mate to the floor between tables - so perhaps not!!

If I could find out how to upload the photos I will.

Off to have a condemmed womans breakfast!

Tracey x

 

Really enjoying your posts Tracey , sounds like your having a good time considering your ill so definately not man flu !!!  :)

Keep up the good work xx

great posts, sounds must be excellent to be there.  Look forward to reading some more :)

Thats him giving out hand Analysis, Must have been 74o

Great posts Dingbell - Have a fab time. Am very jealous especially as hubby Nick Gibson is also out there & playing flight 1. Say hi & good luck if you bump into him. He is tall & bald & very English!

Good luck all & have a fab time

LOL

Anna xx

Just a brief update from me guys,

weather hasn't been great so far. bit overcast but im sure Mr Sun will pop out soon!

Rupert is going well in the main event hes hovering around the 20k mark at the moment. Most of his chips coming when he hit a set with 88 and he got most of the guys chips who had KK.

I've used some of the spare time today to have a look around the place. It is simply HUGE!!. Check it out on www.atlantis.com.

I also went for a swim in the sea and rode the 'leap of faith' which is a near vertical drop water sliode which goes through a tunnel of sharks, its one of the most scariest things i have ever done!

Also played a $50 stt which lasted 3 hands, i was in a raised pot 4 way pre flop with 22. Flop came T72 and i was up against TT + 77!!  OOOPS.

Bumped into man of the moment Brian Wilson who is sporting some rather flash Blonde Poker attire. We plan on going for dinner at some point so that should be fun. I have never seen a guy smile so much..he carries a great auora around with him both on and off the tables.

Bumped into a couple of other small time poker players such as Phil Ivey, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Barry Greenstein, Patrik Antonius and Joe Hachem. Pretty weird just walking by them.

Well got to go the battery is about to run out and i need to locate the charger! i think im also logged in on pokerstars wireless network so i best not piss them off too much!

Also...Tracey, havent seen you yet...ill try and get Brian to point you out at some point so i can meet up and show my face, best of luck in the main event.

Speak Soon

Ben

my 2c pretty much no poker content.

This morning had interviews with UK Press. Hows this for a weird. 2 other people were being interviewed when I was in the Media room . Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem... If thats not a sign as to me winnning the 06 ME i dunno what is. Held the door open for chris moneymaker in the mens i was leaving he was entering he said "thanks".

Feel a bit common to be here to be honest... place is just oozing money.

I start day 1b in 15 hours and im totally psyched :D feel in the zone.

Went to go play some cash games and sng's tonight only to find out theres 1hr+ waiting lists for everything.. F**K that.

Gonna just chill and watch some tv tonight wish me luck for tomorrow :D

Hope your still running well rupert had a look in the tournament room but it was just too busy.. hope your bags turned up too

yep his bags turned up in the end after we wents nuts at American Airlines.

They owe us a big big apology....never use that airline, weren't your bags delayed too mate?

im sitting outside the cardroom at the minute, i managed to sneak onto the pokerstars wireless system :)

maybe if i play on stars now i might have a rigged account? who knows :)

hope your having a good time buddy and be sure to check out that mean waterslide....its like having a colonic irrigation!

see you around,

Ben

This is an awesome thread. Please keep it up.  :)up

ok guys - we are through the first day - i am sitting in the bar with the camel, Bern, Lawrence samuels, and daniel samson having a long island ice tea so excuse any spelling mistakes.
We have made a great showing for the brits - all of us through with amazing nine lives stories all around!!

Lawrence samuels best hand: Aces against wsop 4th finisher Aaron Kanter - who had KJ and kept on raising with Lawrence just flat calling behind him - made 5500 ion one hand and brought him back from the dead, taking half of Aarons chip stack. I was lucky enough to be next to Lawrence and we kept each other company all day - he admnits now that he raised my sb with 6 2 - but i forgive him because i raised him too many times to mention!!

Berns best hand - nunerous - but on chris moneymakers table he had aces and took chris money maker for 3000.

Mike Matusow was on adjacent table and went out against trip 10s. He went very quitely after shouting all his news/hands/weather reports/local gossip for the last few hours.

Daniels best hand was when he called someone down with ace high. HPlayer raises in middle position - Dan flat calls in BB with A 10. Flop 6, 7,2. Dan bets 1200, player raises it up to 2400, Dan flat calls. Turn comes 3, Dan checks - player checks. River Jack. Dan check - player bets 4000, Dan flat calls and winfs the pot.

My best hand was after back from dinner break - i only had 2000 and was ready to go - had  a bad call just before the break. I had a gin at dinner and lost all fear. Got A K first hand - went all in - got a call from A Q - my hand stood up. I then started playing proper poker - the swede opposite me got tired of my reaises and stopped raising me - which was good. My flat calls got people folding - bizarre - and I ended up with 15000 chips.

I did an all in bet second hand of the tourney - pocket aces with a raise in front of me - didnt get a call - but sent a strong message - dont bully the bird - thanks TE for the advice!!

Antes were a learning curve for most of us - but we have survived to live another day. No average chip counts for the day yet - day off while second flight and Rookie play then back the day after with redraw for seats.

Our chip counts are Camel approx 30,000, Bern 18,700, Daniel 30,000 and Lawrence 25,800. Me 15,000.

all in all a great day! Met some really nice people and found out that the guy whose trip aces beat my trip kings yesterday was Juha Helppi so I dont feel so bad about it!!

Daniel Negranu is out. One bit if gossip - Evelyn Ng didnt turn up and was being blinded out then they took her chips off the table and are letting her start tomorrow - very out of order.what do others think about that??
 
Tracey

Maid Marion - I ma sat with your husband who says he has Fxxxk all chips and is hanging on by a thread. Loves you lots. (Obviously had more than one beer!!) martin Green is also here and agrees that Nick is bald!!

Ok - I have to give the lap top back now so good luck to all the blondites playing tomorrow!!

Tracey x

nice work Tracey keep it up, best of luck for Saturday.

Rupert ended up with 19.6k which isn't a bad result, the lad is pretty fearless for an 18 year old and im sure he will do very well,

as for Mike Matusow, he seemed a bit pissed off when i saw him go out to Patrik Antonius....he was circling the table muttering all sorts of things!

Any sign of Brian? I saw him earlier in the day but havent seen him since.

I play tomorrow and am very excited. I have also been star spotting around the place and feel a bit out of place as the place is full of money. I wanted to play the live $300 tonight but it was full after about 10 min, nightmare. Instead i played online and took down the $12k on prima for $3.6k so soon got over the misery. Heading to bed know for a good nights sleep!

good luck badpab..well done on the 12k job

Good luck to all blondes out there...one of you bring it home FFS :)up

Just to keep you going whilst you're over the other side of the planet Tracey :)



[attachment deleted by admin]

LOL

Is he/she real?

Looks like Gizmo off Gremlins.  :D

Sort of...

(http://plush-toy.co.uk/acatalog/1gremlins-gizmo.jpg)

Hey,

My mate is in this and I see from another site that he's 4th in chips after the first day, if anyone can keep updated when he comes bk after day 1b that would be awesome.

His name's Dafydd Elias, a good old Welsh lad obviously, it mentions he's on table 14 but i guess that will change when they mix the packs?

Cheers,
James Atkin

Is he the only gay in the village?  ;)


ps. Welcome to Blonde James.  :hello:

Today is the day, at least I KNOW it will be a great day! After taking a month off I am more than ready to play. I just hope I dont have a  :blonde: on day 1. Wait a minute, I want the entire day to be a  :blonde:, hell I think I will just have an entire BLONDE COMP!

I will try and post on a break today, I have been in meetings w/ "poker business people" since I arrived and have not had any FUN yet. There are some big "Rookie" stories coming to you very soon!              I will try and organize a blonde breakfeast for tomorrow so lets pick a time and place for everyone here to meet?

 ;tk;, I cant send you the standard pre-comp text message so here it is in email form!

I gonna win this dammmm thing, the Rookie is the best, JUST WIN BABY , JUST WIN 8)

Good luck to everyone playing today, see ya! 

Good luck Mr Wilson.  :)up

Brian,

A little advice.

It's no good going into these tourneys thinking you cannot win. Be a little more self-confident.

Try saying to yourself "I WILL make the Final Table, & I'm happy to chop it 9 ways".

Hi James - yes I heard about him but we didnt know who he was - well chipped up - about 75,000 I heard - poss chip leader.  Bern was moved to his table just before the end and said he was playing brilliantly. I hope he gets to the final table just to hear the americans try and pronounce his name!!

i havent seen any other blondites - Im really sorry I havent been to say hello - dont know what people look like - I only recognised Rookie because he had a blonde poker hat on!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL BLONDITES TODAY - LETS BRING IT ON HOME FOR THE BRITS

Thats the spirit tikay!

"Chop Baby, Chop".

Its a longshot but here is my table draw. Anyone know any of these players?????

Amolis, Leslie
Pittman, Grant
Thomsen, Kasper
Cote, Peter
Kelly, Kevin
Wilson, Brian 8)
Hylden, Mark
Koplan, Adam
Thurman, Mike

Yeah - I know that Wilson fella. Passes  Ts Th to  Jd 4c

And plays rubbish - 4-7 etc.

Weak passive.

Thank God, I was talking to John Gale, Joe Sebok, Cindy Violet, Allen Cunningham, and DC, and they all said this guy was the goods, now I am relieved :D

I didnt see Tony Kendall on the list....

Grant Pittman, Canadian guy, two small cashes in 4 years, the biggest was $8,000 in Hi-Lo 7 Card Stud!

Kevin Kelly - Texan (that's in America), had a small draw in Cork (that's in Ireland) in a super satellite, but his main claim to fame would be 5th in the $500 NLH at the Jack Binion Open in Tunica a year ago next week, for $40k.

Mark Hylden - 2 small cashes, plus 446th in the '05 WSOP Main Event for $16,000

Adam Koplan a Yank (as Mark Hylden is), 3 small cashes in 5 years, all in or around San Francisco. Biggest was $9,000 in a $100-er.

Mike Thurman - one cash only, $8,000 for 37th at the Palm Beach WPT in September '05.

None of the others appear to have any "live" record, though I'm told that some of these internet boys can play a bit.

someone has been on the hendon database!

Happy to acknowledge......

Two blondepoker cap wearing players.....


http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=29082 (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=29082)

http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=3265 (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=3265)

Whose record do we prefer?

Whose shirt do we prefer?

undecided.

its all about the $$$$$$ baby

Table 12-3
:D

Lol, no Dafydd he isn't the only gay in the village but we've had fun with that one for a while haha.

Good to hear he's playing well, would def like to hear what vince van patten calls him lol...

I think he has bout 75k in chips...

Cheers,
James

Excellent, just read the lot.

Good luck the blondes.

Never knew about their database. Pretty handy.

I've found moi.

Looks like I'm being interviewed for Crimewatch though.  8)

Day off today for Rupert so we decided last night that we would get up early and go swimming and do some sight seeing. Well that went to pot when the maid woke us up at midday, oh well we got a few hours in!

Rookie is out of the main event he flopped a top set of 8's and it looked good when he got the chips in against AA but the jammy opposition hit one of his two outs to make the higher set and knock the man of the moment out. Hes just started a $500 freezeout so i might post a bit later if he does well. GL mate.....i was speaking to him not longer ago and he said he was keen on doing a split if he makes the final table of this $500 freeze.

Chow for now, may post in a few hours or so...

Ben

I guess I have lost my touch! I think I am to tight!

Blinds 100/200 I call a raise of 700 w/  5s 6h, 3 players flop of  4s 7d Jc

bet of 11,00, I call , raise to 2,200, all in , I pass, turn is a  3d, would have been 30,000 plus if I dont play the " new" way.

I will tell you that I pushed on a flush draw at the Foxwoods 10k and the wsop main event so this is not a dream call, I am killing myself right now!

Went out w  8d 8s, raised min utg to 800, reraisd to 1600, called, flop of  2h 5c  8c

headup, he bets 1,500, I push, he shows   Ad Ah, river is  As oh well

$500 somp at 6pm, 4 limpers to my small blind, I raise to 350 w/  9d Jd ( 1st hand of comp 25/25) and I get 3 callers

flop is Js 8d Qd, 1st to act I move all in  (started w/ 1500 chips) , called by  Kh Qc, and  Jh 2h, I am put 1st hand, off to the bar for :ironside: :ironside: :redcard: no , BUY me a beer!

I am gonna play Mike the mouth " Tommorow at 4pm for $25,000 heads up, I have 4 buddies puttin up $5k each, I will let everyone know how it turns out!


Fushy, what do ya think?

UL Brian, but bollox to the mouth, get yourself to Broadway!! ;)

GL 2moro sire

I think the dealer is going to need ear protectors!!

Matusow is steaming at the moment Brian should be an easy kill. He was borrowing money left right and centre.

Matusow was playing a cash game earlier and lost a $20k+ pot with JJ to KQ on a JT4  3   A board....serves him right for slow playing!

Me and Rupert have just been for some dinner and i had a good chow on every crutacean possible not to mention the mahi mahi fish, was bloody good food.

Rupert is doing an interview for PokerStars tomorrow....which should be printed along mith his mug in the evening standard.

Brian you are the most impossible bloke to trace where the F%^& are you???

Sounds like your enjoying yourselves there. I was there in nov and 1 useful tip I have for you is if you get pissed off with the overinflated prices for food, there is a small shopping across the road with a couple of cafes that do nice food at sensible prices.

Your story about the bags made me laugh because the same happened to us. The same happens with all the airlines because the locals all go to florida to buy cheap goods, microwaves, TVs etc and bring them back on the flights. So EVERY flight is overloaded and bags always get left behind, usually the tourists bags cus the locals are wise to this and make sure their stuff gets on. After every flight there will be 10-15 tourists walking around swearing about their bags being lost, the local staff are so laid back and chilled out about it because it happens all the time this winds people up even more, but sure enough the bags always come on the next flight.

Dont worry it wont happen on the way home

Kick Matusows arse!

Rookie - I cant believe it!!! I came down to bother you and to set up a mexican wave type cheering team for you and you were gone!!! 

Bad luck - your play with the eights was good - you were ahead - just Fxxxing unlucky with the cards. I played 4 7 off 1st day but missed comletely so left it on the shelf but if its a winning formular for you go with it - just cant wait to hear the game today - and I will hear it if I'm within 100 feet!    :blonde:

As for everyone else - well done and hope I'm not playing any of you today as you are all plaing too good!

Played sit and go yesterday with Daffid (or however you spell his name) nice boy but on a roll and willing to gamble - took a lot of my chips early on- nd I went very early then to a flush draw against my pair - they are very willing to put it all in on a gamble here - its getting very loose.

Heard a lot of guys talking about today and how they were short stacked so they would be gambling to make somechips so I think the first hour or so will be a bit mad. Should be interesting....

Best of luck all - I am the curly haired woman with big hoop earrings if anyone wants to come and say hello. I will have the camera with me if anyone wants to be posted on blonde but cant be bothered to plug everything in.

GOOD LUCK

Tracey Dell

Well theres spme bads news and some good news....

I bumped into Tracey not long ago and unfortunatly has been eliminated...im sure sure exactly how but it sounded like she got the chips in ahead.

Rumit is hovering around the 20k mark and Martin Green a.k.a KenBarlow is short stacked and looking to push with just 9k left.

The good news - Rupert is playing power poker and is on 70k.....with 190 players remaining and top 130 paid, Rupert looks good with double the average stack on make a good showing here. Im sure he can do it, hes an excellent player and lets wish him the best of luck.

I have taken many pictures but unfortunatly Rupert left the darn cable at home! so we can't upload them :(

Brian's last 3 tournaments have all lasted no more than 10 minutes...hes entering the $500 freeze again tonight so lets hope he does a bit better!

Off for dinner with the great man himself a bit later, its just a job finding him!

GOOOOOOOO RUPERT!!!!!!

My mate Dafydd got knocked out :(, 3 hands that lost him it in his words..


i have  6d 6c
blind of 400/800
100 ante
i limp, bb limps and sb calls

flop comes  Qd  6s  2s
i got middle set
i bet 2800
button pusses for 12 k more
sb calls his allin
i call
they got  As 7s and  Qs Jh
turns the  Js
rivers  Jc

then i have  Ad Kd in the sb
i reraise this loose player who calls
flop comes  8h 6s 2c, i bet 75% of the pot
he goes allin for an under raise
i call
he has  6c  7c for mid pair
i dont hit

i then get 16k
20 bb
folds round to me in the button
i make it 2500
with  Ks Kd
massive stack in the sb sets me in
he has  Ad 9c
flop comes  Ac Ah 4d
no king on turn or river



Gutted for him....the 1st and 3rd hands sound pretty sick and it sucks that mr 67 called a re-raise with garbage but i guess he got done over by the old AK overplay,

Still he did awesomely on day 1 so that's to his great credit....

MC

COUGH COUGH,

the 76 guy was Rupert  ;ifm; :blonde:

no it actually was....

Oi oi keep us updated Ben!!    How's Rupert going now?

Latest update I can find is down to 150 and on a 90min dinner break. So getting to the business end of things with 130 paid.

with 135 left and rupert sitting comfortably with 50k fingers crossed it looks like he will make the money.

Just had a long chat with Brian about both our futures in poker...seems like the guy has things sussed and its easy to see why many people look up to him. Hes currently well stacked in the early stages of the $500 freezeout, hes pratically running the table as per and hes taking it quite seriously tonight so i expect him to do well.

Had a long chat with Rupert over the dinner break and the thing that surprises me the most is that he doesn't seem bothered at all about this tournament and i mean that in a good way. For an 18 year old to play like this amazes me, he said the only thing that is bothering him on the table is World class player John Pham, aparently hes running the show

anyway, as soon as Rupert makes the money WHICH HE WILL, ill post a bit further


 

WE'RE IN THE MONEY!!!!!


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

100 players now remain and ive actually managed to sneak on a connection that covers the main poker hall, im currently sitting next to Brians table in the $500 freeze in which hes chipped up, taking gambles winning and losing some big pots. Thewy he would give you a run for your money! YOYO

Rupert bluffed off 3/4 of his chips to leave him with only 12k left and 1000/2000 blinds followed by a 300 ante.

he quickly found JJ in the sb and called a raise and re raise with it....to be honest i dont think he had much choice

he was up against KK + 44, he found some amazing luck from the sky though when the board came 7s8s9s with the KK holding the Ks

only 2 jacks and 3 10's could save him and luckily he hit a non spade T on the river! OHHHHHHHH HAPPY DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYS

back up to 40k now and he has a realistic chance of making the next level which pays $12.7k i think.

Rupert is out in 82nd place picking up $10,700

Great achievement although hes obviously still a bit pissed off as the jacks came back to haunt him when he was involved in a 100k pot with JJ v KK

Brian still going very well in the $500 freeze with about 25 remaining players. best of luck Brian....

Great job by Rupert, he should be very proud :respect:

I finished 20th for $1,200, had to get to 4th place to make any real $$$$ 20-10 all paid $1,200! I am off to Cuba for the night, then back to win the $1,500 on Sunday night!

Oh ya, bird sitting next to me in the $500 event yelled at me and told me to Calm down! She never got to play her blinds and she was unhappy about being to me left! So the next hand I cracked her  As Ac w/  2s Js, she was not happy and told me to get a job! I told her that poker had paid prety well in 2005, so I thought I would give it another year 8)

Hope evryone had a great time at the bash, I wil be there next year!

Ruperts investing his $ wisely. In a $1000 heads up trny at Atlantis being played via PokerStars. Starts 4.45 pm UK time.

Just to explain Simons last post.

The players are gonna be playing heads up across the table, but on laptops, so anyone on PokerStars can see the games.

Most of the tables are sitting out so I guess theres a power problem at Atlantis?

I think there has been a few technical glitches here at atlantis with the $1000 battleships tourney....

Martin Green who it must be added is a top bloke just finished 19th in the 175 runner $1000 freeze for $2365, going out with TT v JJ

Rupert who was slighty pissed off about finished 82nd in the main event thankfully woke up this morning with a huge grin on his face, despite dropping $700 in the $1/2 nl cash game where 9/10 players were seriously drunk....every time someone won a big pot they bought a round of cocktails!

He said the funny thing was he was all in pre flop one hand for a $600 pot with T7, and unbelieveably he had the best hand!!! the other players had 92 and T4! with the T4 spiking a 4 on the turn :( . He said it was good fun though..

Ive been playing the $1/2nl cash game most of the night and won $400 which is nice.

All in all its been a great holiday so far and with 3 days left i think its time to take in the sights and sun and have some fun!

Ok – I have been on the missing list for a few days – but having been eliminated from the main game I immersed myself in every other game I could find, completely on tilt – have just come back from swimming with the dolphins which was my antidote from poker! I feel cleansed!! Also – the internet connection in the rooms keeps dropping out every few mins and its really starting to hack me off!!

Story of my game  -  went onto second day still full of trepidation but with a healthy mix of anticipation, emancipation, and every other ion there is – including constipation.

Rang my Dad just before I started playing – he has been following it on the internet – and he is so proud of me – I am so proud of him being able to follow it on the internet – that is an achievement on its own!!

Very happy to be back up to $15,900 with only 2 larger stack at my table. Bad news – immediately to my left was a guy (Nick Shulman – no relation I think to the other shulman)  who had just won the foxwoods tourney and he had 70 000 ish. Very young and arrogant with it – and looking to annihilate his table.  Took an immediate dislike to him – especially after he told me that despite the fact I was old enough to be his mother he wasn’t ‘gonna give me any slack lady’. Charming!

As in the first day – I went all in second hand with aces – amazing how that happened again – and wasn’t called.  Went all in with A Q third hand to get called by A J who lost the race. Happy days.  Quitened off for a while but always had my eye on the antes which were now 100 and starting to bite – for all those Harrington readers my M was 7 so I only had a certain amount of play left in my game.

It was obvious that us small stacks wanted to play and the big stacks for their part were keeping out of it.  Until – guy 2 to my right raised the pot from 4000 to 15000. Enormous black guy with dreadlocks- called by the chip leader (shulman) on our table – Flop comes A, 7, 4. A great flop for Brian – but unfortunately he was out by then!! The dreadlock guy checks, gets a call which he flat calls.

Next card 10. Dreadlock guy checks – gets a bigger all – dwells up and eventually flat calls.  Next card an Ace – the table ooohed and ahhed all over the place – no flush draw in sight.  The dread lock guy checks, after a dwell Shulman goes all in. The dreadlock guy dwells and dwells so much I was thinking of christening him Carlo -   and eventually says call. Shulman is disgusted when the dreadlock guy shows A Q and mucks his hand. I asked dreadlocks why it took him so long to call when he had a set of aces with a Q kicker – he says he was worried that the other guy had a king – now that’s tight play.!!   Nick Shulman– the guy young enough to be my son – was short stacked – ah – revenge is sweet.

Two hands later Shulman goes all in, and is called by the BB who has A Q which stands up. I bit my tongue and resisted saying ‘bad luck son’ as he left the table.

I manage to steal a few pots after that – the antes adding up nicely. Im in the SB with 3 callers to my left and I find AQ suited. I go all in – hoping my new improved table image will chase them off – the BB dwells and eventually calls saying you’ve beaten me with this hand before and I want to see a flop with it. You know your hand is beaten when they say something like that – whenever they talk you know even if you go in ahead they will win…..the rest of the table folds – he just has me covered – turns over A J – happy days for me until the Jack comes on the flop. Ah well – tournament glory has been taken away again – but I had the time of my life and seeing Nick Shulman be taken from one of the chip leaders to nothing before me made up for it!!

I had said in all the interviews that the one thing I wanted to do was get through into the second day – anything else was a bonus – but if I could beat half the field I was happy. 

I must admit that as I walked away the disappointment caught me off guard – and the walk was a bit blind as I tried very hard not to cry. Walked straight past the rookie who pulled me to one side and after I swigged his beer (funny thing was he hadn’t offered it to me – I just took it from him and necked it down) I felt a bit better. It was nice to see a friendly (if not slightly half crazy) face. ;-)

I still had some mates in though – Bern had already gone out on a pair of threes – we had all sympathised but wondered why he made the play in the first place – but unless you are on the table and feeling the vibes its very difficult to second guess play (imho).

PS decided to add another level to try and get all players that come back tomorrow in the money – so there was a bubble situation. Hand for hand with 13 or so tables is  along process – all dealers had to stand up when their hand was finished and wait for the next one to start. Eventually two players went out together – trips cracking aces and another pair I think.

Both Laurence Samuels and Daniel Samsom were still in – and I spent a lot of time on the sidelines cheering them on.  By the end of the day they were both still in – and another victorious crew made its way to the nearest bar to drink cocktails.

The bar nearest the poker room was littered with internet players still playing on the internet even though there were live games readily available 100 yards away. One guy – apparently the most famous player on PS (fit asian American guy) was playing 4 tables on his laptop and had an audience almost as big as the one watching the big game – bizarre – and every time he won a pot he high fived the crowd – this trip has opened my eyes to the obsessive nature of the game.

Anyway – after just one drink we all retired as the guys had to  play again tomorrow – no break this time and we all wanted them to do well so we packed them off to bed – our champions needed their rest.

At this point I should say that I never realised before the mental tiredness I felt once I stopped playing – the relief was enormous and the fact that these guys were still under that pressure and required state of alertness was a real tribute to them.

Nest day – game had just started when we got there – now all the tables are cordoned off – all the players still in are in the money -  so the shorter stacks are looking to get some play and make some chips.  Lawrence has some early luck with aces and doubles up. Joe Hachem is on his table and Lawrence plays aggressively – cracking Joes aces which reduces his chips so much that he eventually disappears into the world of ‘anted out and pressurised to make bad play’ Lawrence is on a roll and loving every minute of it – coming to the rail to recount his play before running back to his table to play the next one. Early on though he looses a pivotal pot and eventually qq gets beaten by KK.

Daniels is getting chipped up- hasn’t seen a card for 2 days but playing position superbly and building a fab stack. The railbird community is bonding – friendly conversation for the railbirds with friends on other tables – stony glances for those who have friends on the same table until they are beaten when we all enthusiastically commiserate with them and smile as they leave.

Just then disaster strikes – Daniel looses a 500 000 pot when a fish makes his set on the river. He is down to about 30,000 but still in. No position to play now – just has to move in with the best hand he has as soon as he can and pray.  He goes all in with A high – gets a call from a guy with 77 and no ace on the board. We are standing (literally) on the rail straining to see the cards The most pitying thin was as the river card is being turned over Daniel shouts out ‘come on dealer – give me some luck just this one time’ and a  4 comes over. Daniel looks sick.

His wife and daughter are not allowed in the card room, so as he walks away I put my arm around a broken man – just won $24,000 but its not the money – it’s the loss of the dream.  I watch him leave the card room and there is Lucy with Emma in her push chair just turned up to meet him at the break – the first thing he does is pick up his daughter and cuddle her – and as I turn away I’m walking blind again – this bloody game really gets under your skin.

So – all in all the blondites and other brits did well – certainly didn’t disgrace them selves – and we had fun and heartbreak all rolled into one. My one everlasting memory will be the crickets. No – not the wild ones….but as you turn the corner into the lobby outside the card room you can hear millions of crickets…..they get louder until you get into the card room then you realise they are the sound of thousands of chips being riffled. Stranger still is that when you are playing and in a pot – one that could affect the rest of your tournament – you can’t hear a thing.
         

Thanks for that Dingd....Great write up....
PS (fit asian American guy) did he have a grey beard?

Nice update :)

Dolphins are the cleansers of our souls.

Nice report again

Commiserations to Dannypoker too. Would love to know the full details of the 500,000 chip pot he lost. ugh!!

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your kind words.

Tighend you wanted to hear the bad beat story so here it goes.

We were down to the last 22 players at this point and i was in good shape with around 260,000 in chips. the blinds were 1500/3000 and a guy opened under the gun for 20k another guy in seat 7 pushed in for 100k. I was on the BB and woke up with KK so i pushed in. The original raiser called all in for a total of 190k and they both showed AK!!

the rest as they say is history and this pot would have put me as  chip leader at this stage and given me a good shot at the big money.

It wasnt my day but i had a great trip and holiday.

Back to the real world and Luton's main event, not as glam but just as good!!

Dan

Fantastic stuff - just read the lot in one go!

Well done guys...

 ;slavedriver; young lady lol

noooooooooo Char....

I'm bored...  lol

I can talk , giving the kiddies lunch and snuck on here while they're munching away  ;scarymoment;

Too early for lunch and my colleague has bagsied the 12-1 slot, so I gotta wait till 1 now!!  sigh

This is going to be quite a long post so if you get bored half way through I don't blame you ;-)

We kicked off at 5am at my house, and myself and Ben (Sunday8pm) headed towards Heathrow. The flights changed twice as this was the cheapest route, at Chicago and Miami. All flights went pretty smoothly, we missed one connecting one from Chicago but there was another one soon after and it wouldn't effect our arrival time. We were a bit nervous about the propellor plane that would carry us over to the Bahamas but it worked out fine and we landed around 9pm.

The useless gits at AA had lost my luggage on the Miami->Bahamas flight so we had to hang around the airport for an additional hour asking where the hell it was. They said it would be on the next flight and they would deliver it to our room at the hotel by 9:30 the next morning. I was a bit anxious to get some clothes, I had a pretty nasty odour working for me by this point and I was playing in the main event the very next day so I didn't want other things on my mind.

Well the luggage turned up at 12, to the bellman, so I had to start the tournament in a pair of Bens shorts and a Poker Stars t-shirt. I looked like a bit of an idiot but who cares I was playing the WPT!!

Day 1 went pretty smoothly for me, I loosened up towards the end of the day and tried a couple too many bluffs. I had Eric Seidel on my table who couldn't find a hand all day. I had a nice chap to my left whos name I can't recall, but when one guy made it T1000 with blinds 200/400, I whacked it straight up to 3000 in the small blind with AQ (he was an aggressive player and I had a ridiculously rocky image), the BB folded AK and showed me!! It was the last hand before the break so I showed him my AQ and we had a laugh about that (only he saw my hand). The other guy claimed he folded 88.

I ended up the day on T19600. A pretty good day I guess, my highest point was around 29000 so I was a little disappointed especially as I said to myself that to do well today I had to finish on around 30000. I was still happy with the way I played though and I don't think I made too many mistakes, whilst still making a couple of moves.

The next day I had off as it was the second Day 1 players so we had a few drinks and fun with Brian Wilson, played some $1/2 NL very loosely and ended up losing some money. As it was my day off we decided to check out the swimming pool. Day 2 was pretty nasty in weather terms, it was cold and overcast... Wheres the Bahamas weather!! Needless to say, it was 3 degrees back home and a bit of wind wasn't going to stop us having fun. The swimming pool was empty and we tried out all the slides they have there including the "Leap of Faith", pretty suggestive by name, it was a near vertical drop curving off through a shark tank with glass walls. It was a good kick and we went on it a few times.

Day 3 I was playing again, I drew a ridiculously hard table at first but fortunately it was to be broken up soon. I didn't actually recognise them but Brian told me there were a couple of very good players there. We broke up after 5 hands and I got moved to a much softer table where I would spend the rest of the day. I slowly accumulated some chips and slowly lost them, up and down all day. Then I went into 9th gear and raised in early with JT off. The guy on my left had been coming over the top all day, on one occasion I raised in the cutoff and he reraised me. I considered moving in with my 52o because I was so sure he was just restealing but I ended up laying it down. He showed me an ace, but as he chucked his cards to the dealer a 6 was revealed as well! I was annoyed at myself because going over the top again there is the kind of move I make. Later on I told him I passed AQ and he said he also had AQ, I laughed! So after he reraised me I called this time to take a flop. It came ten high and I was out of position so I checked. He bet nearly all my stack and I pushed in for about T13k total. It was an underraise so he pretty much had to call and his KJ couldn't catch a king so I doubled up to 33k. Not long after I found myself raising with 67 hearts. The SB reraises me quite heavily, something like 4k after my 2100 raise. I decided to peel off a flop, he was playing the hand very aggressively, he had a big stack, and I think I had ridiculously good implied odds. I certainly didn't think he would play a big pair like this, something like jacks or tens I think he would take a flop with rather than reraise. By this point I was like 90% sure he had AK, maybe 8% jacks/tens. The flop came 862 and he bet 14000. Huge bet and if that isn't AK then I don't know what is, I push all in which came out as an underraise and he called. Of course he has AK and my pair is winning. It holds up and I double up again to 65k! I am now amongst the chip leaders, probably top 15. A few steals with hands like 77, AJ, and I am up to 75k. The day is going very well all of a sudden. Unforunately I didn't shift back down a gear and got involved in a pot with AT with a big stack. I can't remember the details but it cost me about 20k and I know I played the hand very stupidly. After the dinner break we were battling for the money, 130 paid with 130th getting $10,700 so for all the satellite players there was a lot at stake and my goal now was to make the money. This is where I think I started playing badly. I was playing for the money, not for 1st. It allowed every other player to capitalise on my tightness. I squeezed into the money with 45k and decided I would loosen up. I then had my most annoying hand of the tournament. I had 67 suited in the BB and a guy 3 off the button raised it up to 3.5BB. I called as he could be doing this with lots of hands, he was an aggressive player. The flop came ace high and I bet out and he called. I had no pair no draw, and we both checked the turn. I then bet T8k on the river which he called with AT. I only had 20k left total so I think if I pushed he will fold but I think he knows that I had loosened up now we were in the money. Next time I think I will pass preflop... So I was down to 12k at the start of the last level of the day. First hand in the SB I have jacks, the same guy raises before me again, another short stack goes all in, I go allin as well, the other guy calls presumably for the value. I am in pretty sick shape, original raiser has 44, other all in guy has KK. Flop comes 789 with 2 spades and I have no spade. Turn comes a rag, but a spade rag and the KK guy has a spade. I stand up getting ready to order a beer when miraculously the river comes an offsuit T. Wow, saved or what. I am back up to 40k, still under average but very playable, blinds now 1k/2k with a 300 ante. After lots of folding I get those f'ing jacks again. I raise to 6k in second position, chip leader 2 to my left calls, next guy who had a rock image pushes in for 50k. When I am awake, I fold this hand quicker than a Japanese Origami artist, but for some reason I lumped those chips in and of course he had kings which held up nicely for him. He was a nice Canadian chap called Brian and he bought me a beer later on which was a nice gesture.

A great experience overall and I was 10 grand richer. 2 silly hands to learn from but lots of people have told me they liked my 67 play against the AK. It was also great fun playing with John Phan who was pissing about no end. A really good internet player called Ozzy87 was an experience to play with as well, I swear, that kid was a different gravy.

The next few days were holiday and we chilled out with the sharks, lots of swimming, playing $1/2 and just getting drunk. Met some great people on the $1/2 game, mostly guys and gals who have come with friends in the main event. I'm going to give them a mention just in case they read this: John, Kyle, Jeanine, Anthony -- others whose names escape me as well!

I entered the $2k event out of my own pocket on the last day, I think I played it well but I can't be sure. Second hand, blinds 25/25 starting chips 3000, I made it 125 with 78 spades. There were only 5 players at my table as it had only just started so I think this was a fair raise here. The BB called and the flop came 982 with one spade. I quite liked it, he checked and I bet 225, he raised me another 325. I wasn't sure if he just sensed I was weak and put me on high cards like AQ, so I decided to call. The flop came a pretty dangerous 7 and he bet out 700 very quickly. I figured I should find out where I am in this hand and so I pushed in ;-). He dwelled for a bit and called with JJ. River came a Q and I doubled up. The guy plays the 25/50 NL and he went and told them all that he got donkeyed out! Matusow took the piss out of him though so all is good.

A few hands later and I have TT on the button. Aggressive player calls, internet player raises, 25/50 player calls, I call, limper calls. Flop comes 332. Checked to me and I fire out, aggressive player raises me right up, other guys pass, and I push in. He calls with 63 and doubles up. Back down to 2500. Soon after I raise UTG with AK suited, aggressive player calls, another guy calls as well. Flop K72 with 2 spades. Wrong suit for me but I decide I will check raise it, I check, aggressive player checks, other guy fires out for 1200, I push in and they both call. Fuck there goes 2k I am thinking. How right I am, they both get it in on the turn which is a spade. Aggressive player has 77, other guy has A9 spades, river paired the board, but that didn't matter to me and I walked away disgusted.

The evenings cocktail party was great fun, all drinks were free for an hour and a half which made a change from the $8 a drink we were paying in the poker room. The inevitable happened, Ben and myself hung out with Brian Wilson most of the time (WSOP $5k PL HE champ), tried on his bracelet and silly things. We also made sure we got our photos with Mr Raymer and Mr Hachem. Later on I was shitfaced and hit the poker room, bad idea obviously, thankfully the cash game was full so I played a $50 sit and go. This basically meant all in or fold for me, I don't remember much specifics but I got AA 3 times and was completely running the table on the bubble. Heads up the guy asked if we wanted to chop it and I laughed and pushed my chips in blind. He called with Q7 and I had KK! He flopped two pair though so nevermind. I doubled up a couple of times and went on to win it somehow.

Myself and some of the 1/2 players hit the casino to test the blackjack tables. Obviously a stupid idea and I dropped $500 veeeery quickly. At some point in the night I ended up in bed and at 7am Ben thought that we should get ready to go so he woke me up. Our flight was at 3pm and I had a killer hangover so this was waaaaay to early to wake up! He told me Daniel Negraneuaneuneunruneu was in the lobby though and I idolise him so I had to go and meet him. We went down and he was kicking back on the sofa with his laptop. We got some photos done and I asked him when he was coming to England, he told me it wasn't on the plans so he wasn't sure.

The flights back went smoothly, although once again the propellor plane decided that the best way to land was a nose dive, that scared us shitless. Hachem was on our plane as well and he looked like he was about to cry!

Back to Blighty and I hit Gutshot for the £50 freezeout, I played it very well, got my KK outdrawn by AT all in preflop, then ran into AA with my QQ in a hand that played itself.

A fantastic trip all in all and I have lots of catching up to do uni wise and sleep wise as well. Hope everyone is well... Till next time

great post m8

excellent post rupert, thank you for sharing your story for us

nice one son, what a truly amazing trip :)!!!

Pics available at http://www.electioneering.net/rupert/bahamas -- they are pretty big though

(http://www.electioneering.net/rupert/bahamas/DSC02755.JPG)

what a lovely photo and great report - cant post my photos as too big and still in bahamas so using berns stupid little laptop that i cant work....we didnt go to the last night drinks do as we were already out and about -sorry to have missed you- would have loved to have shared some bad beat stories with you....weather is better now and i am getting some colour - been on all the slides apart from the big one - im a bit of a wooss and bern wont go in it either and i dont want to walk up there on my own :-(

This place is really quiet now - not one laptop in the bar - unreal!!  We went back to the poker room last night - all the tables are on their sides waiting to be packed away - and we are so desperate for a game we have started playing heads up - Ive made $100 so far but the night is young!! Cant wait to get back and play - may take the cards and try and persuade an american to play in the bar!

Missing all the blondites!

Tracey

Ding with Mr 47 himself.....

[attachment deleted by admin]

Ding with Greg Raymer...

[attachment deleted by admin]

Another from Tracey.....Dingdell's Bern, the Camel, dannypoker and Lawrence <surname?>



[attachment deleted by admin]

Thanks to Heid for helping out with these pics!

that Wilson fella gets around huh?  :D

The other dude is Lawrence, he lives by John Gale, nice guy, spoke to him and he told me " you must be the only American on blonde!" I said I think Tikay and all the boys like it that way? ;goodvevil;

Ta Brian :) Amended ... apart from surname :)

thanks for posting them Heid - from the technophobe!!! x

np :)

have fun!

Nice posts rupert... nice pics ding! Thanks for the update. Was chatting to one of the Edinburgh players on saturday Rup, he was telling me he'd spoken to you and I was interested to see if you butted heads :D

I didnt actually play one hand of poker with rupert or sunday while in the carribean. We played different day 1's and after busting i stuck to sit n gos where i think they played mainly the juicy 1/2NL game.

I looked for you and couldnt find you - gave up as my feet were killing me just from walking to the poker room - had to get new shoes as i wore the old ones out - my room at the other end of the hotel. I think at the next one we should have a hat or something - doesnt blonde sell any stuff yet? And why doesn it? I am posting this in another thread!

Hopefully not too late to ask... can anyone get a schedule for the normal poker games run in the Atlantis, I'm in the bahamas at Easter & might go try my luck.

Cheers,

Rod

Hi Rod,

I believe poker (aside from casino poker carib stud, and games against the house) Is illegal in the bahamas except when their is a major tournament on.

However on my way to atlantis I saw a casino that offerered the only poker on the island... go figure.

To answer your question im not sure

They dont have regular games at Atlantis, they just have a casino.  They are trying to introduce them though I think.  Also I think "Crystal Palace" or something is about to start them but ask brian about that

Cheers guys, I'll call a few when I get there to find out the latest,

the Crystal Palace is the only place w/ a regular poker room, I will have more info about comps in the next week or so, i am working w/ them to try and develop the poker room.

Right now they have 6 tables and they start at about 6pm - 2 am only

If you go you must try the Belgium restaurant in Nassau - best meal we had in the 2 weeks we were there and sooo much cheaper than Atlantis. Avoid the only 5* restaurant in Nassau like the plague, over priced, over cooked and over rated!

Hello All,

Just came here for my first post. I am the "Lawrence" Tracy was discussing earlier. Seems like a really nice community here and I notice quite a few players I have met and played with before. Hope to pop in more often now and keep in contact with a few of you. I made it to 36th here which I was delighted with as it was only my 2nd major live tourney the first being the WSOP Main Event. Both event entries were won online. This event I met up with Tracy and Bern, Danny (who has played at my home game), DAFYYD, Rumit, Brian, Keith "The Camel", Nick and a few other Brits (sorry Brian, I forgot u arent one!). The support and encouragement from all was fantastic and definately helped.

Good luck at the tables, hope to see ya around.

Lawrence "Baggytrousers" Samuel

Very well played Lawerence.


 :hello: :hello: ;welcome; ;welcome;


 ;letsparty; ;letsparty; ;letsparty;